Chapter 4

Just then, the bedroom door opened. Sophia stepped out, arm-in-arm with Charles.

She wore a sheer chiffon gown, the delicate lace of her lingerie faintly visible beneath.

"Well, isn't this quite the scene?" Sophia remarked with a smug smile. "Charles, are your ladies really so idle? Is stirring up drama all they have to do?"

Charles's expression darkened. "Jocelyn. You are a noble lady. Start acting like it!"

Jocelyn trembled with anger. "Your Majesty, just look at what she's wearing in the open! It's utterly indecent, shameless—"

"Enough!" Charles snapped. "Sophia is my honored guest. Anyone who disrespects her will answer to me."

I stepped forward calmly. "Your Majesty, Lady Jocelyn meant no harm. She was only concerned for your standing."

"My queen..." Charles looked at me, his gaze conflicted.

Sophia suddenly cut in, "Charles, didn't you promise to grant me an official position at court? Why not make it official now? That should keep these people from harassing me constantly."

Everyone stared at Charles in disbelief.

Women never held formal offices here. A female officer was unheard of.

But Charles simply nodded. "That was indeed my intention. From today onward, Sophia will serve as my royal advisor, assisting me in state affairs."

"Your Majesty!" Jocelyn cried out, stunned. "This isn't right. It goes against all tradition."

"I decide what is right!" Charles said coldly. "Anyone who objects can spend some time reflecting in the distant manor."

As I watched Charles in silence, it struck me just how frighteningly unfamiliar he had become.

Jocelyn returned with me to my chambers, burying her face in my lap as she wept bitterly. "Lizzie, how could he do this to me?"

She sobbed, "When we first met, he said my dancing enchanted him, that he couldn't get me out of his thoughts...

"But now? He didn't even hesitate to threaten me with banishment!"

I stroked her hair gently, my mind drifting back to that snowy night three years ago.

Back then, Charles was just an exiled prince. He stood outside my father's study for three days and three nights, begging the Sinclair family to support his claim to the throne.

He handed me a blood-stained letter written by Edward himself before he fell in battle.

It held only one line: [Lizzie. Promise me you'll look after this reckless brother of mine.]

Charles, tears streaming down his face, clutched the hem of my gown. "Elizabeth... please, I'm begging you. Help me..."

After much pleading on my part, my father finally relented and agreed to back him.

His only condition was that Charles must marry me as his queen, to honor, respect, and protect me, never to set me aside or send me away.

"Lizzie, it hurts so much..." Jocelyn wept. "How can you be so calm? Don't you feel anything? Aren't you angry or heartbroken?"

"Heartbroken?" I let out a soft, almost bitter laugh, brushing the tears from her swollen eyes. "In this palace, I cried all the tears I had long ago."

"Jocelyn," I said gently, lowering my voice. "Tomorrow, I'll have you escorted out of the palace. The winds here are about to change."

Jocelyn lifted her head, eyes wide, tears halting. "Lizzie?"

I smoothed the damp strands of hair from her cheeks. "During the guard shift tomorrow, Lady Laurel will help you slip away unnoticed.

"I've already sent word to the Prime Minister's estate. Your father will be waiting."

She gripped my wrist tightly. "What are you planning to do?"

I gazed out at the fading dusk. "I'm staying. I will end this myself."

After Jocelyn left, I stood alone in the courtyard for a long time. Moonlight spilled, stretching my shadow across the stones.

Violet approached quietly. "Your Majesty, it's late. You should rest."

"Violet," I said, not turning around, "how long have you been by my side?"

"My lady, I've been with you since you were ten," she replied softly.

I turned to face Violet, my loyal maid who's been with me all these years. "Tomorrow morning, you'll leave the palace together with Lady Jocelyn."

Violet's expression shifted. She held my hands, crying out, "No! I'd rather die than leave you."

I slipped a pendant into her palm. "This is my father's token. Take it to Edward, and tell him—"

I leaned close to her ear, my voice barely a whisper.

Violet trembled all over, tears streaming down her face. "But..."

"Go," I said, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "That is an order."